Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Leeds City council has called time on an illegal
drinking den at a flat in Harehills, following a successful prosecution at
Leeds Magistrates’ court yesterday (Tuesday 15 April).

Floberte Ngamou, 39, of Bexley Avenue, Harehills pleaded
guilty to two offences of selling alcohol without a licence at a flat above a
hairdressers at 123 Harehills Road. Ngamou was sentenced to 20 weeks
imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 200 hours unpaid work and £2160 costs.

Leeds City Council’s licensing officers
successfully brought the prosecution after it was discovered that alcohol was being
displayed, offered for sale and being consumed at the property by members of
the public, without a licence. Officers from Leeds City Council and West
Yorkshire Police visited the premises on three separate occasions between October
2012 and April 2013 and each time alcohol was being sold without a licence, despite
previous warnings and legal orders given to stop the activities until a
suitable licence was granted. Floberte Ngamou confirmed that she was in charge
and had control of the premises on each occasion.

Councillor Graham
Hyde, acting chair of the licencing committee said:

“It beggars belief that this type of
irresponsible behaviour is going on in this day and age. Selling and allowing
people to drink alcohol at an unlicensed premises not only puts the ‘customers’
at risk it is also anti-social and a blight for local residents. This
prosecution shows that we will not tolerate this kind of irresponsible behaviour
in our city.”

Floberte Ngamou was prosecuted for two offences
under s.136 and two offences under s.137 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Since the 24th November 2005 the sale by retail of
alcohol is a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003. Premises selling
alcohol require a Premises Licence or Temporary Event Notice authorising the
activity.

A person guilty of an offence of selling alcohol
without a licence is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000, or to both.

“Our England Batonbearers are going to play a crucial part when the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in England on May 31.

“They have all been selected due to their passion for sport and the way in which they share this with their communities and look to get people involved and active.

“I’m encouraging everyone in Leeds to get involved when the Queen’s Baton Relay comes to your city – find out what event is taking place and if you can be there then please go and cheer on your Batonbearers and be part of the Team England send-off to Glasgow!”

The Batonbearers will carry the baton to a variety of events and activities to inspire and introduce young people to new sports, organised by Leeds City Council.

Events in Leeds will begin when the baton visits Headingley Carnegie Stadium, which will be hosting a talent identification session for pupils from secondary schools across the city.

Young people will get the chance to show their skills in rugby league, cricket and football, in a session being delivered in partnership with local professional clubs.

The celebration will then move on to the John Charles Centre for Sport for an afternoon of multi-sport activity.

Around 1,700 children will be trying out Commonwealth sports delivered in partnership with the national governing bodies.

The day will then conclude with a celebration evening at Leeds Civic Hall, wishing prospective athletes good luck for the Commonwealth Games and showcasing some of the city’s many sporting accomplishments.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for leisure and skills, said:

“Excitement is really building for the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay and the day is shaping up to be one of the key events in what is a landmark year for sport in Leeds.

“Our Batonbearers have been chosen because they represent wonderful examples of some of the things that make Leeds such a great sporting city and I’m sure they will do us proud as we play our part in this huge, global event.”

The baton will have visited 63 of 70 Commonwealth nations and territories when it arrives in the British Isles on Sunday, May 10.

Landing in Jersey, the baton then journeys through Guernsey, Isle of Man, embarks on a four-day tour of Northern Ireland and then spends a week in Wales.

It will arrive in England on May 31 to begin the penultimate leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Manchester, visiting 16 different locations en route to its final destination through Scotland and the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The XX Commonwealth Games takes place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 3. Commonwealth Games England is sending a 400-strong team to compete across the 17 sports.

Ends

Issued by:

Stuart Robinson
Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk

For more information, interview requests and details of media opportunities around the Queen’s Baton Relay please contact:

Ali has always been fascinated by sport and all that it represents. This has led him to represent ParalympicsGB in powerlifting at Commonwealth, European, World and Paralympic Games, most notably the 2012 Paralympics.

The highlight of his career was gold at the Asian Open in 2013, with a new European and World record, becoming world ranked number one. He has come through adversity as he suffers from Crohns disease, which is incurable. His dream is to become the first Crohns sufferer to win Gold at any Olympics or Paralympics.

Charlotte Sansome

In 2013 Charlotte was the Community Secretary for Leeds University Union Women's Hockey Club (LUUWHC), and as such focused on trying to bridge the gap between the university and the community through sport.

In addition to organising events and sporting challenges for the club (raising over £6000 for SUDEP action), she also instigated a 'Helping Hand with Hockey' - a free coaching scheme for local primary schools.

The programme visited 8 schools, and Charlotte also organised a tournament. The aim was to increase children's interest in sport and give them a chance to play a sport they wouldn’t have otherwise had. The scheme is currently ongoing.

Laura Beardsmore

Laura has spent 16 years competing for Wharfedale, Leeds and Great Britain at national and international level Aikido. She won the World Individual Women's Randori title last year, following victory in 2011, becoming the first person in history to win back to back world titles.

By winning three gold medals at the 2013 World championships she is currently ranked fifth in the list of all-time British medal winners and third in gold medals.

Laura runs seminars for young people, especially girls, to encourage the transition from junior to senior level competition and she has recently submitted a proposal to manage the GB squad.

Nile Wilson

Nile is an up-and-coming young Gymnast training to make the Commonwealth Games England team. He is a Junior European all around silver medallist, the 2013 English and British Champion, and won three gold medals and a silver at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). He also competed for England at the World School Games in Brasilia wining six medals.

Nile was selected to be the flag bearer for Great Britain at the EYOF which she says was “an amazing experience and I was very privileged”.

He is very excited about being a baton bearer in the Queens Baton Relay.

Norman Stephens

Norman is a passionate supporter of sport. Between 1956 to 1965 he was a keen rugby league player and also a grade five registered RL referee officiating games up to professional level. He organised Ebor Swimming Club for over 30 years helping hundreds of East Leeds youngsters to learn to swim.

His greatest love for over 40 years is sailing and his passion is helping people of all backgrounds to experience this wonderful sport. He is a life member of Otley Sailing Club and has helped to raise over £50,000 to help disabled youngsters learn to sail through the SailFree scheme.

Sophie Taylor

Sophie Taylor is a focused and determined young swimmer from the City of Leeds club. The 17-year-old set a senior British record in the 100m breaststroke in August last year at the World Junior Championships in Dubai, where she won two silver medals and a bronze. She also has two silvers and a bronze from the European Junior Championships.

Coming from a one parent family has made her very appreciative of the time and effort given by other people who have helped her achieve what she has.
Sophie believes being a baton bearer would be a big honour and is looking forward to representing both Leeds City Council and the City of Leeds Swimming Club in the Queens Baton Relay.

Commonwealth Games England

Commonwealth Games England (CGE) leads and manages the participation of the Team England at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. We are affiliated to the Commonwealth Games Federation and work closely with the various sports’ National Governing Bodies (NGBs), funding partners such as Sport England, our commercial sponsors and Organising Committees. Our purpose is to help develop athletes and their sports, and to achieve success at Games-time.

Bottom picture caption: The Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Thomas Murray (right of picture), will be hosting the first ever Lord Mayor’s Golf Day tournament on May 1.

Time is running out for keen golfers in the city to see their names at the top of the leaderboard in the first ever Lord Mayor’s Golf Day tournament.

Held in support of the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Thomas Murray’s LOFFTY charity and the Silverdale Holiday Centre, participants have the chance as part of a four-person team, to claim the bragging rights against rival line-ups over 18 holes at the Wike Ridge Championship Golf Course.

Held on May 1, 20 teams have already signed up to be involved in the competition, which will also include on the day a chance to win a number of big prizes and take part in fun challenges.

Included in the £350 entry fee per team will be lunch and dinner for all participants and the opportunity to test their mettle in a ‘Beat the Pro’ challenge, a putting contest and indoor Par 3 simulator competition.

Only one ladies team has signed up for the tournament as yet, and the Lord Mayor is keen to see the fantastic golfing skills of women in the city showcased at the event.

For further details around the event, please contact by email: lordmayorsoffice@leeds.gov.uk or telephone: 0113 2474194.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Thomas Murray said:

"We have had a fantastic response so far with 20 teams signing up, but the good news is that there is still time to enter a line-up in the first annual Lord Mayor’s Golf Day in aid of my LOFFTY charity and Silverdale Holiday Centre.

"As part of the entry fee, participants will not only have the chance to battle it out over 18 holes at the fantastic Wike Ridge golf course, they will also be provided with a great lunch and dinner, and be given the opportunity to win prizes and take part in a number of fun challenges.

"There is a real wealth of golfing talent in Leeds, and I am surprised that, as yet, only one ladies team has signed up to take part and showcase their skills. It would be great if, on May 1, we have a number of ladies teams battling it out to take the honours at the event."

Notes to editors:

The key aim of the LOFFTY project, which stands for ‘Leeds Offers Fun For The Young’, is to raise funds that will provide additional fun activities for kids in the city during and after school, at weekends and throughout the school holidays.
Silverdale Holiday Centre -Leeds Children’s Holiday Camp Association has been providing free holidays/respite to disadvantaged children aged 7 to 11 years for over 100 years. The Lady Mayoress of Leeds is the President of the charity by rite of her Civic position and tradition, subject to her consent.

From March until September every year, 300 holiday places are allocated to children who enjoy a five-day break by the sea. The centre provides respite for children who are disadvantaged for various reasons, including poverty, neglect, abuse, disability, homelessness, victims of domestic violence, children who are young carers, those who are in foster or social care, and children from vulnerable ethnic minority groups.

Families applying for their child’s first primary school place have received their offers today (16 April), with thousands of the city’s children being given a place at their first preference school from September 2014.

A total of 85 per cent of children will attend their first preference primary school, which is the same as last year - while overall more than 95 per cent will attend one of their five preferences. A total of 9774 reception places have been allocated this year, which is 419 more than in 2013.

Alternative places have been offered to 468 children who did not get any of their five preferences (five per cent). Families are recommended to always include their nearest school as one of their preferences and to make sure they use all five preferences to get the best chance of being offered a preferred school.

The volume of applications makes the admissions process one of the biggest tasks in the education calendar, and this year, the number of applications was especially high, with 669 more applications this year than two years ago. The council’s school places planning team has worked hard with schools to ensure there are sufficient places for the increase in pupil numbers in the city.

Councillor Judith Blake, executive member responsible for children’s services said:
“For parents and carers, choosing a school for their children is one of the most important decisions they will make. I am pleased we have been able to offer 95 percent of families one of their preferences.

"We do understand though how disappointing and distressing it is when people aren’t allocated their preferred school. We encourage parents to make sure they include their nearest school and use all five preferences to increase their chances of obtaining a place at a local school.

“In a very difficult environment we will continue to do everything we can to ensure parents have a full understanding of how the process works so that as many as possible receive their highest possible preference.”

The full breakdown of offers for primary school places for 2014/15 is: 8270 children were given their first preference (85%) (this is 321 more than last year)
651 children were given their second preference (7%)
246 children were given their third preference (3%)
95 children were given their fourth preference (1%)
44 children were given their fifth preference (<1%)
468 children (5%) were not able to be offered any of their preferences and were made an alternative offer.